KOBO AURA H2O NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN-STORE AND ONLINE: READY TO MAKE A SPLASH WITH THE MOST PASSIONATE READERS

World’s first premium waterproof and dustproof eReader available in North America at Kobo.com and top retailers

TORONTO, ON - October 1, 2014 - Bathtub and beach readers rejoice! The days of housing eReaders in plastic bags to protect against water and sand is now a thing of the past. Kobo Aura H2O, the world’s first premium waterproof E Ink eReader, is now available at Kobo.com (Canada and US) as well as in-store and online at top Canadian retailers Indigo, Best Buy, and Future Shop (full retailer list here). Designed with the most passionate readers in mind – those who put reading at the centre of their lives – this high definition eReader allows people to enjoy their books anywhere they like, worry-free: bed, bath, bus, beach, and more.

Kobo Aura H2O is available in black and retails in North America for $179.99 CAD/USD (MSRP); and is also available in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands – with the UK, France, Spain, and other countries to soon follow. With a waterproof design, 6.8” high definition display, and superior integrated front light, Kobo Aura H2O is the perfect reading companion for any reading situation. What’s more, Kobo’s world-class bookstore offers more than 4 million books and magazines, which means there are more than enough options to suit any reader’s taste.

Since its announcement on August 26, Kobo Aura H2O has been grabbing people’s attention:

“The fact that it's waterproof doesn't make the Kobo Aura H2O any clunkier than it needs to be, and we're betting many beach goers will appreciate the fact that they don't have to fear water anymore.” – Mashable

“Kobo's new Aura H2O e-reader not only is waterproof, but also features a brilliant display. Its extra-large Carta e-Ink HD 6.8-inch screen has 1430 x 1080 pixel resolution at 265 DPI, and a traveller-friendly two months of battery life.” – Wired

“The other thing Kobo has done a great job of here is managing to produce an even, highly legible reading light that covers the whole screen and doesn’t appear to offer any variance in intensity.” – Tech Crunch

“We listened to our readers when they told us they want to read worry-free wherever they go. Since we announced Kobo Aura H2O, the positive feedback we’ve received has more than exceeded our expectations,” said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Kobo. “We continue to break down barriers in digital reading, and now, people can truly read wherever they choose. We’re excited for the launch of this new eReader, and know it will please the most discerning readers.”

Heather Reisman, Founder and CEO of Indigo, said, “Kobo has been at the forefront of innovation since inception and the Kobo Aura H2O is yet another way they’re providing booklovers with real options for their eReading needs. For passionate readers who find it hard to put down a great book—at the beach, by the pool, or in the bathtub— Indigo is delighted to launch the waterproof Kobo Aura H2O.”

PERFECT FOR THE BATH OR BEACH – WATERPROOF, ANTI-GLARE, DUSTPROOFKobo Aura H2O is IP67 certified, which means it is waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1 metre of water with the port cover closed. This enables people to read more, more often, anywhere they like worry-free without damaging their device if accidently dropped in or splashed with water. Reading on a sun-drenched beach is also encouraged, due to the device’s dustproof design and anti-glare display.

HIGH PERFORMANCE – HD DISPLAY, FAST PAGE TURNS, AMPLE STORAGEKobo Aura H2O offers the highest-resolution E Ink display available in an eReader today. At 265 dpi, the spacious 6.8” touchscreen with upgraded Carta E Ink technology – the first of its kind with these display dimensions – offers the closest experience to print-on-paper, showcasing text and high-resolution images beautifully. The device’s 1GHz processor means page turns are swift, and with 4GB of onboard storage (expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card), readers can easily store thousands of eBooks. In addition, Kobo Aura H2O has a battery life of up to two months, making it the perfect eReader for people with a passion for the written word.

READING LIFE – CUSTOMIZABLE FONTS, INTUITIVE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, READING STATSKobo Aura H2O combines ground-breaking hardware with a software experience focused on the perfect reading experience. Each of Kobo Aura H2O’s 10 fonts were perfected pixel-by-pixel to display each letter with crisp, clear perfection; with 24 font sizes, with adjustable font sharpness and weight settings, people can truly customize their reading experience and read exactly the way they want. Kobo Aura H2O also makes the discovery of new titles a breeze, with on-device recommendations based on readers’ activity and preferences. From romance to thrillers, biographies and memoirs to business books, non-fiction to literary fiction, Kobo has something for everyone. Reading Life also gives people the ability to take notes, highlight text, make bookmarks, and track stats to learn more about their own reading habits. Passionate readers can even share favourite passages, quotes, and books to Facebook Timeline.

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About Rakuten Kobo Inc.Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering more than 4 million eBooks and magazines to millions of customers in 190 countries. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo provides consumers with a choice when reading. Kobo offers an eReader for everyone with a wide variety of E Ink eReaders and Google-Certified Android tablets to suit any Reader’s style including the award-winning Kobo Touch™, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc, Kobo Arc 7, Kobo Arc 7HD, Kobo Arc 10HD – and the newly launched Kobo Aura H2O. Along with the company’s free top-ranked eReading apps for Apple®, BlackBerry®, Android®, and Windows®, Kobo ensures the next great read is just a page-turn away. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world. For more information, visit www.kobo.com.